Tribe member says the posters around the shopping centre are as bad as ‘blacking up’. Trafford centre bosses say they regretted any upset caused

A native American tribe member has attacked as offensive a Cowboys and Indians-themed make-up promotion at the Trafford Centre.

Autumn DePoe-Hughes said posters around the centre showing white models posing in male war head-dress are ‘the same as someone blacking up’.

Trafford Centre bosses said they regretted any upset the posters for their Beauty Showdown event had caused.

Ms DePoe-Hughes a member of the Constitutional Tribe of Siletz, moved to Greater Manchester from Oregon in America last year. She lives in Prestwich with husband Neil Hughes and one-year-old baby Elias.

Gary Louth

Autumn Depoe-Hughes has written to the Trafford Centre to complain about the posters that are up in the centre for a make-up promotion

She made a formal complaint about photographs of a female model wearing a feather headdress – known to Native Americans as a war bonnet – and a ‘war paint wigwam’ where women can have make-up consultations.

They are part of a promotional campaign with make-up demonstrations and sales.

Ms DePoe-Hughes, 37, said she was offended by the images – as well as an advertisement for a ‘beauty pow-wow’.

She said: “I know there aren’t many Native Americans around in Manchester so people might not realise why it is offensive, but because of that I feel I have to speak up.

“To us, a white woman wearing a war bonnet is the same as someone blacking up.

“I know this display at the Trafford Centre is just done through ignorance, not hatred, but you can do so much research about Native American culture online.

The Trafford Centre website with the posters which have caused Autumn Depoe-Hughes offence

“It is offensive because of the genocide suffered by Native American people.”

A spokesman from the shopping centre said the make-up campaign had never intended to offend.

Gordon McKinnon, director of operations at the Trafford Centre added: “We have contacted Ms DePoe-Hughes to express our regret that she has been upset by some of the marketing material for our Beauty Showdown event and to assure her that absolutely no offence was intended.”

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